When I thought I would die, I heard my name. “Charlie, it’s OK.”
The weight on my body was gone. I could breathe. The eyes I saw were not evil now. Blue eyes, wonderful blue eyes gazed down at me. Jace’s eyes! I remembered. I was here to work out. “Oh, God,” I murmured ashamed of what just happened. “Jace, I’m—I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for freaking out on you.”
I looked at him as tears welled up in my eyes and a sob formed in my chest. Somehow Jace knew I was about to freak out even more than I already did. Before I let loose and totally lost it in front of him, he took three long steps and pulled me into his arms. With a comforting ease, Jace balled my hair in his fist. I felt him bring a strand up and inhale my scent, as if he was trying to remember my smell. All the while Jace repeated words of comfort, saying, “It’s OK now, Charlie. It’s OK now. There’s no need to be sorry. You didn‘t do anything wrong.”
For three long pathetic weeks, all my friends had treated me like an alien. And because they looked at me like that, the sarcastic side of me wanted to say, “Don’t worry, puny humans, I come in peace,” just to get that look off their faces. However, the one I wanted the most comfort from kept his distance. Tru acted like I was made of glass, so easy to break. Meanwhile, the only one who I had tried to avoid—the only one begging me to just look at him and acknowledge what happened—he was the only one willing me to face the fact. . . I wasn’t over my attack. And now here I was with him, with the one I’d run from for three weeks. I felt a sudden urge to laugh hysterically at how crazy my life had become. Jace lifted my chin and wiped the tears off my cheeks. Funny, I didn’t even know I was crying. God, I was pathetic!
He smiled and kissed the side of my face saying, “Now let’s see if we can’t get you past this fear of being held down.”
“W-w-hat?” I asked.
“Trust me, Charlie. This’ll be fun?”
Hah, right, the word “fun,” didn’t sound like fun when he said it. Jace’s face was scrunched up in what looked like panic. So one would think that whatever was about to happen, would not be fun at all. Oh, crap!
“Jace, I dunno about this. Uh, maybe we should just call it quits. We can try in a week, a month, err, or year,” I replied with a wry grin.
“Hah-hah, Charlie. I don’t think so. I’m not letting you off that easy. Besides, you don’t want to scream every time someone is on top of you . . . um, right?” Jace grinned, “Well maybe not in the way you were screaming just now,” Jace snorted.
I shoved him. Perv! I rolled my eyes. I was not going to bother trying to hide my annoyance at how he got around saying something sexual at any chance he could.
“Jace, spill it. What can you do for me,” I asked exasperated.
He smiled and crossed his arms over his massive chest, cocking his head to the side. Jace leaned against the wall and said, “Well, I can do a lot. What would you like?”
“Knock it off, Jace, and tell me.”
He chuckled, “Lighten up.” I waved my hand impatiently. “Fine! Jeez, you’re a stick in the mud.” I snorted, who said that anymore. “It’s simple. I want to play a game.”
“Huh,” I looked at him.
“Yes, let’s play a game, Charlie, and if at any time you want to quit, we can. But I know you will enjoy my game,” Jace grinned.
I sighed dramatically and said, “Fine, I’ll play your stupid game.”
“Good, close your eyes,” Jace replied.
I did reluctantly and thought Jace was full of it. Yet, I gave in and closed my eyes. I felt Jace wrap his strong arms around my waist. I stiffened—what the hell kind of game was Jace planning on playing? Strip Charlie? I though not! I looked over my shoulder. “Jace, what’s going on? I thought we were going to play a game, not let you fondle me. Are you trying to seduce me?”
Jace laughed. “We are playing, and no I’m not trying to seduce you, scouts honor.” Jace put two fingers up in the air and did a little salute. I giggled at what he said and thought scouts honor, that was funny—he was so not a scout. Jace grinned. Then he purred, low, slow and sexy. Making my toes curl from the hypnotic tone in his voice. “Trust me, Fox. When I seduce you . . . You’ll know it.”
I shivered at how he was making me feel. God, he could have talked like that all day and I would’ve loved every bit of it. Jace brought a piece of cloth up to my eyes pulling me out of my thoughts and tied it around my head so I was blindfolded. “Um, Jace . . . I don’t like this,” I said with a shaky voice as darkness enveloped me. Then it happened again, I saw evil faces. Blood, a knife—cutting—slicing—then they were punching and kicking me. And then there was Max! Max! I pulled my hands up to yank the blindfold off, but Jace stopped me.
“Charlie, I’m here. Just hear my voice and think of me. Concentrate only on me and my voice. Now, can you see only me, Charlie?”
Suddenly the dark lifted, and like magic there he was. I saw every inch of Jace’s wonderful face. I nodded letting him know that I saw only him. It was strange, but, yes, the eyes and faces were gone. All I saw was Jace. At that moment I heard a squeaking noise. Jace muttered something not polite under his breath.
I smiled. “Jace, is everything okay?”
“Yes, it’s fine,” Jace sighed. “Can I ask you a question?”
I hesitated, “O—kay.”
“What’s your favorite flower, Charlie?”
“Huh?” I mumbled.
“I said what flower do you like?” Jace asked impatiently.
“Why?” I came back.
“Just humor me!” Jace pleaded.
“Jace, I don’t see where you’re going with this?”
“Trust me, this will help you and I think you will enjoy it as well.”
“Fine,” I said reluctantly. “My favorite flower is a white calla-lily.”
With my eyes still closed, I could only go with what I was hearing. I heard Jace shuffling around and encouraging me to continue. “Uh-huh, why do you like that type of flower?” Jace asked.
“Well there’s just something about the purity within it. It seems that all the bad in the world could wash away in the wonderful, beautiful aroma. But that’s silly. I know a simple flower could never take the evil out of the world,” I replied.
“How can you be so sure?” Jace whispered as he came up behind me and slowly lifted something to my nose. “Breathe in deeply. There is something I want you to smell.”
Shivers ran down my spine. Reluctantly and not quite sure where he was going with this, I took in a deep breath. It hit me in an overwhelming proportion. The sweet soothing smell of calla lily wafted up through my nose.
“Jace?”
“Just think, Fox, what good one flower could bring you. Now take off the blindfold.”
I pulled the blindfold down. I knew I had a completely, utterly, foolish, unattractive open-mouth look of shock. “Oh, Jace, it’s beautiful!”
All around me on the floor lay thousands of white calla lily petals. It was the sweetest most wonderful thing anyone had ever done for me. The room was transformed, breathtakingly. Words could not describe what I felt in that moment. So much was going through my head. How did he know? When did he know to have the flowers here of all days I could have come over? How? It was so crazy, but wonderful—beautiful—amazing!
Before I had a chance to ask, he said, “Let me explain. I asked your mom what your favorite flower was.” Jace smiled. “Yeah, it’s kinda sappy, I know,” he shrugged. “Anyway, your mom told me that calla lilies were your favorite. It was very tricky. Well, hell, you avoided me for so long I thought I might not get the chance to do this. However, my mom ordered the flowers. She told me I needed to try and get you over here today if I wanted to succeed in what I planned on. I assumed she was giving me the opportunity to just go for it, so here we are.” He smiled shyly and scratched the back of his head, tucking his right hand into his pocket. Jace looked so charming then that I melted a little. “I’m just glad it worked out.”
“Wow, than
k you.” I looked down. “But I’m sorry I don’t see how all this,” I did a little sweep around the shop with my hand. “How is this going to help me with my problems? I still see bad things and I don’t like to be held down. Plus Max is still out there.”
Jace grinned, his blue eyes lighted up as he said, “Yes I know that, my dear. This is why I’m not done. Do you trust me, Charlie?” He asked hopefully.
I started, and then said hesitantly, “Yes, I do. Why?”
“Because,” Jace stopped and rubbed the back of his neck looking unsure. “I need you to lie down. Don’t worry, OK? Just trust me.”
“Okay!” I shrugged abruptly and lay down on top of the wonderful, beautiful petals.
Jace let out a long breath and sat down beside me. He swallowed thickly. “Charlie, think of the flowers around you—how beautiful they are.” He paused. “God, look at you—you’re beautiful. Lying here, well, it’s as if you were meant to lay on something as beautiful as you.” Wow, what a sweet guy. Strangely Jace blushed—something I thought he would never do. He let out a deep breath and said, “Now picture this.” He held up one of the flowers. “Your favorite flower is going to wash all the bad away.” It sounded insane. I even thought about telling him, but I opted to just go with it. “What did the bad people do first when you were on the ground?” Jace asked.
I looked at him shaking. “Jace, I don’t like this.” A whimper came out of my mouth in a high pitch. “Let’s just forget it.”
“No, Charlie,” Jace insisted. “You said that you trusted me. So please just trust me.” I sighed. Jace told me to close my eyes. He gently wrapped a vine around my wrists. “Did they hold your arms?” Jace asked me. I nodded and shook like I was an earthquake. “Did he tie you down?” I nodded again, clenching my eyes. “Look at me, Charlie,” Jace demanded. “What do you see?”
I looked at him and didn’t see evil eyes. I didn’t see Max. I saw wonderful eyes. Blue eyes! I saw Jace’s. I said, “You. I see you.”
Jace smiled, “Good. Now if at any time this is too much, you can just pull and you are free, OK?”
I nodded, not knowing if I spoke up what my voice would sound like.
Jace picked up the flower and said, “All the bad that happened - I’m going to try and replace it with something good. That way when you think of what happened, it won’t make you want to cry. Instead, it will make you think of your wonderful flower. It will make you think of me.”
I shuttered. Jace slowly put a flower petal over the bite marks on my forearm and twirled it around. He looked at me to see if I was going to stop him. When I just stared back, Jace leaned in and kissed the spot where the bite mark was still visible. Jace then traced around my arm with the soft petal. He ended up on my ear where that sick, twisted guy had bitten me. I shivered at the thought of my ear in his disgusting mouth. Max. I shook my head and concentrated on what Jace was doing. Jace was trying to wipe it away. Maybe to someone this might look and sound stupid, but to me it was the sweetest and most caring thing someone could do. It might just be the only thing that would get rid of the pain, eyes and faces of evil men. This might be the only thing that for now could make me forget that he was still out there: Max. To me, Jace was literally washing the dirt and disgust away.
Jace looked at me smiling. He said seriously, “Tell me if you want to stop and I will.”
I shook my head no, and with a trembling voice I said, “Please, Jace. Make it go away. I want to feel like I am me. I just want to feel. I don’t want to feel like this shell, not something empty. Please, Jace, make it go away.”
Jace nodded and leaned in to kiss my earlobe and with the same precise movements, he took the flower and traced it down the side of my arm to my ribs. He slowly lifted my shirt up just enough to show the newfound scars from where the knife had slashed my abdomen. In tiny movements, he swirled the flower around my stomach. Jace kissed the pain away—and that’s when I started to cry. Jace immediately pulled the vines away from my wrist and wrapped me in his arms. Gently he stroked my hair.
“Shh, it’s all over. You’re going to be fine. You’re strong, Charlie. You are a very strong person and if anyone can get past this, it’s you!”
Deep down I hoped he was telling the truth. Then I let it all out. Finally I told someone what happened to me. Everything I had kept quiet, convincing myself it was better not to say anything, I told Jace. Finally I caved and told every sick, disgusting detail. I also told him about the humming noise I thought I imagined, and fire that exploded out of my feet and hands when I was angry. How I thought I was the one who killed those men. I told him how I thought it happened while I was fighting with my parents and the little spark that knocked Max out so I could escape. No one other than Jace knew the whole truth. I asked if he thought it sounded crazy. I asked if he thought I was a bad person, because I might have killed. Jace shook his head and smiled, telling me that I wasn’t crazy and those men deserved it.
The looks he gave me were strange. It was like he was thrilled, and not at all freaked. I thought he would think I was crazy—I thought he would think I was losing my mind—I thought he would look at me with disgust, but he looked satisfied. That was wild. Then the whole mindreading thing jumped into my head. He was too comfortable with all this crazy talk. Maybe Jace didn’t think it’s crazy because he could read my mind. God, I was totally wacked. Yet Jace somehow knew I needed this all along. Jace, the one I avoided. The one I desperately tried to stay clear of. He knew all this would work, this would help me. This crazy romantic gesture! Something that looked and sounded silly had done the trick. I don’t recall when I stopped crying and how I got home. I just remember Dad picking me up and Jace telling me goodbye. Feeling much better, as if a weight had been lifted, I got ready for what I hoped would be a night without sick, twisted faces invading my dreams.
I awoke the next morning to a bright-blue sky peeking through the blinds on the outer part of my balcony door. I smiled in utter happiness, knowing that last night there were no nightmares, just wonderful sleep. I knew it was all because of Jace. Somehow he’d done the unthinkable. He’d pulled me out of this dark abyss, a chasm that felt as if I would be forever trapped within. I had been in my own purgatory, but now there was nothing but the sun, a new day and me, only me. When I closed my eyes, all I saw was warmth and light, not that dark pain. It made me happier than ever to know I was going to be OK. For the moment, I was going to be OK. I got up and prepared myself for a fun day with Tru, but I was still thinking of Jace and how he was just so sweet and caring. How he knew exactly what to do.
Chapter Thirty-Two
A Day with Tru
Around three o’clock, Tru pulled into my yard. I beamed with delight at seeing his face—seeing someone I cared so much for and hoped he could tell there was something different about me—I hoped Tru could see that the dark cloud that had been over my head for almost three weeks was a little brighter. Tru locked eyes on mine. His wonderful gold-specked green eyes were shining brightly. My breath caught at how beautiful they were and what one look from him did to my body, how it almost set me on fire. With the way he looked at me, I knew he knew something had changed. Yes, mission accomplished. I smiled and felt like doing a little jig of victory, because if he could see something different then so could everyone else. However, I thought better of it and just climbed in the truck.
“Hello, C, you look . . . different,” Tru mused.
“And you still look good, Tru,” I flirted.
“No, seriously . . . what am I missing here? You really look different. Kinda like you’re lighter.” He shook his head. “Don’t think I’m crazy, but there’s something.” He smiled. “And your smile is so infatuating. See,” Tru gestured to his face. “I haven’t stopped smiling yet, all because of you. So what’s up? What happened?” Tru asked.
I couldn’t tell him what brought this on all of a sudden. I had to figure out a way to get around the question. Crap! Yeah, I know I wanted him to see me differently, but I didn�
��t want to tell him how it came about. So naturally, I did what I thought might work: I played cute. “Well, I always thought I made just about anyone smile,” I beamed.
“Yes, you are charming and witty, but there is something . . . ?” Tru looked at me suspiciously.
“Yeah, yeah! I know there’s something about me. I’m just so darn cute,” I smiled teasingly.
“Well, you have me there. You are cute,” Tru flirted.
“And you love every bit of it, don’t you, Tru,” I flirted back.
“Yes, I do,” Tru smiled as we pulled into his driveway.
That was the end of that conversation. I tried dodging the question as good as I could. I really didn’t want to tell him why I looked happy now—when my life for three weeks had sucked— but now it was good. I knew if I said, “oh, it is nothing really . . . Jace just pulled me out of a dark place and now here I am. Tada!” No, that would have been the worst thing for me to do, because I knew it would’ve hurt Tru. Deep down, I knew he only wanted to help me, but Tru just didn’t know how to handle what happened to me. I understood. Some people handle things differently than others. Tru handled the situation tenderly, as if I were breakable. Maybe to him, I was. But if Tru knew that Jace was the one to help me he would be crushed, and I never wanted that. We walked into Tru’s house. I decided it was your average, everyday suburban home, you know, the white picket fence and all. It had three bedrooms and three bathrooms. I liked it. You could feel love here, and it was wonderful. We had dinner with Tru’s mother and his sister. However, Tru’s dad was absent. Come to think about it, Tru never talked about his father. And besides, I’d never asked about him either. Maybe I had no reason to know or ask of him, but now sitting here eating with people I’ve grown fond of made me feel guilty. I had a ping of sadness crash through me. Then a whole lot of questions formed in my mind.
Did Tru’s dad live here? Was he even alive? I must be the world’s worst friend-somewhat-girlfriend, I mean, God. Why did I not ever ask Tru of his father? In addition, why hadn’t Tru ever spoken of him? I decided that this was something I had to know. Yeah, I know, just blame it on my stinking have-to-know-everything mind. I swear, it would be my downfall. After a pleasant meal, Tru asked if I would like to go for a walk. Of course I said yes and we headed off. We walked alongside a small river. There was bright-green spring grass brushing the river’s edge. Tiny blue flowers surrounded the brook. The sight was breathtaking. In spite of my beautiful surroundings, I couldn’t really concentrate. Over and over I kept thinking about Tru’s father. When I couldn’t take it anymore, I opened my mouth to ask. However, before I had a chance, Tru spoke first.
A Spark Of Magic: Chosen Saga Book One Page 23
